A Fool for Jesus

I've been doing a lot of thinking this morning with silent tears falling down my cheeks. I would rather be a fool for Jesus. I would rather be a dreamer. One who hopes and has visions. One who claims on Earth as it is in heaven. One who thanks God in advance for what He has done even though I can't see it yet. One who approaches the throne of God with boldness and confidence. One who seeks, knocks, and asks with perseverance. One with crazy big faith. One who runs toward Abba Daddy with muddy knees, a snot nose, and pigtails flying in the middle of the war torn cuz all she sees is HIM. One who blows past the naysayers, skeptics, and pharisaical rule keepers. One who calls forth in the name of Jesus. One who actually believes scripture and God's promises. One who knows that 2,000 years ago is still today and seas are still being parted. I would rather trip, fall, fail and believe than be a dead bag of bones in the Sunday pew like a frozen bit of chosen. 

A couple days ago as I was reading 2 Samuel 6 a few verses caught my attention and stuck with me. As David was entering Jerusalem with those carrying the ark of the covenant, this mighty warrior man king "danced before the Lord with all his might." (verse 14). After David sacrificed burnt offerings and blessed the people in the name of the Lord, he went home to bless his household. But, his wife Michal was upset with him and accused his worship and dancing before the Lord as vulgar. It is hard to know the root of this accusation. Maybe she could not wrap her head around David's unabashed humility and praise of God. Maybe she was embarrassed that her husband, a king, could show such emotion publicly. We don't really know what the issue was, but I love David's response: David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord's people Israel - I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor." (verses 21 and 22). David's heart and soul were so bent toward the Lord in love, that nothing else mattered. He was not concerned with himself - not his reputation, weapons, authority, appearance, or manhood. For that time he danced with abandon and not a care for inconsequential matters such as what others thought. I imagine David was more of a king in those moments than in anything previous. Bravo. What a lesson and an encouragement for us, today. For me.

Do not be embarrassed of your faith when the crops are all but failing. Do not think of yourself as weak when you still work at and care about the relationships in your life that have caused you hurt. Do not second-guess yourself when you give people the benefit of the doubt. It is good to not hold a grudge. There is no shame in perseverance. You don't have to feel less-than for being vulnerable and expressive. It is brave to go to the next door when the first one gets slammed in your face. Faith keeps knocking. It does not walk away dejected with shoulders slumped. It always hopes. Sometimes, you will give more to people than you will get back and the world will tell you to read a self-help book about boundaries, but not Jesus. He says it is better to give than receive. You are BETTER. Your heart on your sleeve is of tremendous value. The world is desperate to see this kind of nothing-held-back worship and commitment because it will always point to HIM.

David got it right. In those moments of full on adoration and love for the Lord, he was 100% his full-male-God-ordained-king-self. How contrary to the world and sadly even to some Jesus followers. There is treasure in humility, and Jesus Christ - King of kings and Lord of lords, is worthy of every single praise, honor, and posture of that humility.

Do not conform to make others feel more comfortable. Run with abandon TO, and don't shrink FROM. Be vulnerable. Be expressive. Reach out. Take a risk. Live out and share your faith.

"YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A CITY SET ON A HILL CANNOT BE HIDDEN." Matthew 5:14

Dee M. Kostelyk